The Phillies will try and make it two consecutive sweeps as they meet the Nationals tonight. Brett Myers faces off against Scott Olsen.

We know Olsen, who had a checkered past as Marlins pitcher-cum-antagonizer. He’s had trouble against the Phillies, as our boys have hit him at a .290 clip. The best? Ryan Howard (.458, 2 HR) and Jayson Werth (.462, 2 HR). Chase Utley (.167) and Shane Victorino (.125)? Not so much. Overall, Olsen is 4-5 with a 5.33 ERA against the Phils. Oh, and he seems to hate them, too.

Myers is coming off a better start against the Marlins. He surrendered a three-run blastoff to Dan Uggla but settled down in a Phils comeback win. Home runs continue to plague Myers, as eight longballs have left the park after leaving his right hand. Five Nationals have hit homers off Myers, including the always tough Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn. If he doesn’t give up longballs, chances are Myers will have a sparkling outing. The last time he faced Washington he was dominant, pitching a complete-game shutout against them Aug. 20, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park. A repeat of that would surely help the bullpen, who did get aid from fellow member Chad Durbin, who threw a fine 3.2 innings of relief yesterday.

Your gamenight beer: It’s a little colder tonight, so let’s get back to the darker stuff while there’s still time. Tonight’s offering is from Harpoon, and it’s Harpoon Munich Type Dark Beer. It’s your typical brown ale: Hoppy, malty, roasted. Toffee-like. Coffee-like. A nice beer to have on a cool night, and definitely fitting with some ribs.

Bruce, we just swept the floor with the marlins, i’m not worried and i won’t be unless they are 10 games ahead with 10 to go, they’ve already proven they are streaky and have extremely suspect defense and bullpen

Chase Mutley – I thought it was me. I listened to XM on my way home, and I thought about it hard, but I rooted for the Fish. I just cannot bring myself to root for the Mets. Let the Fish and Phillies duke it out later. I cannot hate the Fish, but I refuse to root for the Mets.

Hey Milt Thompson, Tell your boys to keep the bat on there shoulders. You dont have to swing at the junk this horrible pitcher is throwing. He will walk you or come in with a fast ball. My mother could hit him.

not to be negative at all, but I can’t remember a worse hitter than Chris Coste. I honestly would rather just put Coste in the minors, and have Marson start. Both are equally as talented behind the plate, but standing next to it, Coste shows 0 potential at hitting the ball, 0 signs of being able to read the pitcher, and 0 confidence with his swing.
Man I miss Ruiz.

I just don’t understand Myers’s mentality. You have to be on the mound, knowing that you cannot dig yourself into a 2-1, or 2-0 hole. First pitch strikes are key for this guy. Use your fastball to get ahead of the count, then maybe get a little saucy. But you cannot expect to get the nationals, who lead the league in pitches taken, to swing continuously at 2-0, or 2-1 pitches. It just won’t happen.

For those who are stuck on Extra Innings or Direct TV Feed with the Nats announcers, they are bromancing Utley tonight. They say they need to walk or hit Utley just to get him out of the way. Apparently they fear Vic and Utley. Glad to see Jimmy having a good at bat. Regardless of the outcome…

Manny, After listening to Rob Dibble all winter I actually understood what he meant; he was not saying to injure him, he means to get him out of the way. We all know Chase will take one then steal the bag… I do not defend others much, but Dibble is not like that…

I agree on that note. I remember last year when LA said someone should stick one in [Jose Reyes’] neck for waving and running slowly and the Mets fans were angry. I love LA and I understood what he meant, just like Dibble, but I do see your point.

I remember people on this blog saying in September that Brett was our ace (not Hamels) … just give the guy some time. He is very good and he’s still relatively young. He can be lights out every now and then.

Manny with all due respect I agree with your post, but an ace can’t be good every now and then. An ace should be confident, like what Cole looked like last night. For me, it’s whenever Brett walks a batter, or gives up a base hit, his head starts shaking, and it seems to me that he just doesn’t believe what just happened.
Cole, and any other ace shakes that off, and comes back strong with the next pitch and goes from there.

Brett has that potential, and has shown it, but how many times must we keep saying, “When is it going to come?”

I agree Matt… All I’m saying is that we often don’t appreciate Myers whenever he’s not going 8-9 innings and shutting down the other team. For example, now.. he’s been our best pitcher this season… and the minute he messes up in an inning (like in the 3rd, by walking a bunch of people), we say he sucks and he’s not worth it.

Question. I live in bordentown nj. I have comcast. I get all the channels for the Phillies. CSN, PH 17, Channel 8. If I get direct tv and order the baseball package someone told me it will be blacked out…is that true?

Doug, It is possible. I live in SC and whenever the Phillies play the Braves it is blacked out. I am glad I hate the Braves because they black the games uot on MLB Extra Innings THEN don’t televise them on FSN or TBS. Braves suck. I do not know about there though

I would of walked the number 8 guy. pitched around him. the run is big. live another inning. then the stupid gary my son uses steroids says the pitcher leads off the next inning. chances are asshole he will be pulled.

0 2 you cant try to sneak a fastball by this guy, I usually dont mico manage comment like this but i am stuck at work, dvring the game and watching stick figures on mlb.com for fun but really bored. But in reality 3 runs in 6 innings is not terrible, the 3 walks bothers me, but it is a long season it would be nice to see Phils get some runs here get a lead and send him back out there though I know that is doubtful especially after 109 pitches

BTW, just came on but to make a comment to about Dibble’s comments, he is not talking about hurting Utley just getting him off the plate. Pitchers today are afraid to throw in on guys these days cause they think that if the hit them they will end up in the locker room. What he is saying makes complete sense for a team that has no leadership from the pitching part and needs someone to show them how to not be afraid of hitters. Long season for Nats.

Ok i guess i should get back to work, at least now I just have to watch the last three innings on DVR when I get out of this place be safe and be happy the Phils we be there in the end and the pitching will get better. 6 innings 3 runs not bad opps I already said that well good night

Gee doug,Got to applaud you in what METS stand for….oh how original and been used for what 48 Years? Find something new.Don’t worry Phils fans,I am still here in support of my Amazins,and NO I didn’t or will I abandon ship.The mets have not stepped up and are showing a bunch of fear to the Marlins.The only way the Mets are going to defeat the Anchovies or anyone else is not only show up and play but grow a heart and have the heart to play ball,Mets are on their way to Philly and I’m quaking in my boots.